Geghard: Azerbaijan, under the guise of "restoration", is erasing  centuries-old Armenian traces in Artsakh

ArmInfo.The Azerbaijani regime, under the guise of "restoration," but in reality  by Albanianizing Armenian churches, is erasing centuries-old Armenian  traces in Artsakh and forcibly seizing medieval Armenian structures,  as noted in a statement from the Foundation, received by ArmInfo. 

The statement is in response to recent statements by Allahshukur  Pashazade, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board. During a regular  meeting in Baku dedicated to the 5th anniversary of Remembrance  of  Religious Confessions in Azerbaijan on September 24, Pashazade,   particularly, stated that "the state is preserving the Armenian  church in the center of Baku and, along with mosques, is restoring  the Orthodox and Armenian churches in Shushi." The foundation noted  that, in doing so, the Azerbaijani authorities admit that there are  still non- Albanianized Armenian sites  in Artsakh.  " The question  arises: who destroyed or damaged the "Orthodox" and Armenian churches  which necessitated their restoration?"

Moreover, Geghard noted that the Armenian Church of St. John the  Baptist, known as "Kanach Zham," which was completely destroyed by  the Azerbaijani regime, is considered Orthodox in Azerbaijan. "The  Armenian church they claim is the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Church,  which was damaged twice by long-range missiles in October 2020. It  has been covered with construction netting for a long time, and it is  unknown what damage it has already suffered," the statement noted.

The foundation noted that Azerbaijan's systematic destruction of  Armenian cultural heritage has been documented by both satellite  images and reports from international human rights organizations.  "For example, on August 29, 2025, the United States Commission on  International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) published a new report  reiterating that Armenian heritage is at risk of destruction. It  recommended that the US government facilitate the visit of  international independent observers to Artsakh and surrounding areas  to verify and document the state of religious and cultural heritage,"  Geghard recalled. 

In conclusion, the research and analysis foundation noted  similarities in the policies pursued by Azerbaijan and Turkey  regarding Armenian cultural heritage. The latter, as Geghard pointed  out, allegedly renovated the Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar  Island, while hundreds of other churches had already been demolished  or converted into mosques. "Armenian architecture is distinguished by  its originality and historical roots. With its false 'restoration' of  churches, Azerbaijan is once again throwing dust in the eyes of the  world," Geghard concluded.